Please Note: This vacancy is offering 1 Full-Time role and 1 Part-Time role (18.5hours)

Approved Premises (APs) provide a critical community-based service to accommodate and closely supervise high-risk offenders on release from prison, for the purposes of public protection. APs are staffed 24 hours per day, with staff enforcing an overnight curfew, and other monitoring and reporting requirements. Probation Services Officers (PSOs) lead on the key interventions and rehabilitative activities with the resident group, working regular hours Monday to Friday but also covering at weekends as required. The provision of suitable accommodation on release is a key factor in reducing reoffending and supporting transition into the community.

Please note, the PSO role does not include any working from home. Approved Premises deliver a critical public protection service and PSOs are required to be on-site Monday to Friday. This is a mobile-grade role meaning you may be required to cover shifts at sites other than your home base. Any such arrangements will be made in accordance with policy. All appointable candidates from this campaign who cannot be offered immediate positions, will be held on a Merit List for 12 months and may be used to fill other PSO vacancies in AP sites.

If you are successful in the recruitment process to join the Probation Service, your starting salary will be £26,475

The Probation Service offers the opportunity for annual pay progression through a Competency Based Framework (CBF), which if eligible, will see your pay increase. CBF is designed to enable you to move up through the pay band range as your competence grows.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Probation Service also increase their pay band ranges annually in line with Civil Service Pay guidance, which will also apply an increase to band pay ranges where applicable.

Overview of the job

Holbeck House is a Psychologically Informed Planned Environment (PIPE) Approved Premises (AP) and is part of the Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) Pathway. The aim of the PIPE is to support individuals with a variety of interpersonal issues to build meaningful relationships and engage in activities that will help them succeed in the community. As a PIPE Probation Services Officer, you’ll be at the heart of a dynamic, trauma-informed team, working with individuals who have experienced complex interpersonal challenges. You’ll deliver structured and relational sessions that help residents build trust, develop pro-social behaviours, and prepare for successful reintegration into the community.

The PIPE concept recognises that the way in which staff interact with residents can have a significant impact on resident’s psychological and social progress, this is particularly true of residents with personality related needs.

The staff team are supported to develop their knowledge and experience in working with this service user group. The role offers a rewarding opportunity to work closely with service users, seeing and being part of their progression into the community. This is an ideal opportunity if you are passionate about rehabilitation, curious about human behaviour, and committed to working in a psychologically informed environment.

For an informal chat about this role please call either Rachel Garry (Operational Lead) or Leanne Myers (Clinical Lead) on 0113 2454220

Summary

To assess and manage the risk (including risk management plans and escalation) posed by people on probation to protect victims of crime and the general public by:
• Liaising, providing information and advice to criminal courts, criminal justice agencies and other partner agencies.
• Supervise and manage risk of those people on probation subject to community sentences, during and after custodial sentences.
• Work with other agencies and groups to prevent crime and meet the needs of victims and people on probation.

In line with PS policies and procedures, the job holder must at all times demonstrate a commitment to equality and inclusion and an understanding of their relevance to the work they do.

The post holder must adhere to all policies in respect of the sensitive/confidential nature of the information handled whilst working in this position.

If relevant to the role, some out of hours working may be required (i.e. Courts, Approved Premises, programmes, evening reporting etc.).

Responsibilities, Activities & Duties

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:
• To undertake the full range of offender management tasks with people on probation assessed as low or medium risk of harm and to support the Probation Officer grade in high risk cases.
• When providing case manager support, to contribute to the delivery of the Risk Management plan and report significant changes relating to risk of harm and/or of reoffending or any non‐compliance within agreed enforcement procedures.
• To use computer based systems to produce, update and maintain records and other documentation within agreed timescales.
• Ensure effective referrals to services and facilities and communicate with offender management staff, interventions staff, service providers and external agencies to review progress and associated risks.
• To undertake prison, home or alternate location visits as required in accordance with service procedures and policies.
• To undertake work in the court setting, including the completion of appropriate reports on cases and prosecution of breaches.
• To provide cover within teams as required.